Long-time Detroit Tigers television broadcasters Mario Impemba and Rod Allen will not return to the booth next season. The decision stems from a physical altercation between the two that occurred on September 4th.
Both were suspended for the remainder of this season with Matt Shepard and Kirk Gibson serving as primary replacements. Impemba had been the Tigers’ play-by-play man on Fox Sports Detroit since 2002 before being partnered with Allen a year later.
Author: Tanner Hoops
Brewers Sweep Colorado, Advance To First NLCS In Seven Seasons
Milwaukee clubbed three homeruns and allowed just four hits as the Brewers blanked Colorado 6-0 on Sunday. The Brew Crew is moving on to the NLCS for the first time since 2011 after sweeping the best-of-five series.
The Brewers took the lead in the top of the first inning when Travis Shaw grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Christian Yelich. Milwaukee added to their lead in the fourth on Jesus Aguilar’s first homerun of the postseason; a 418-foot solo shot into the left field bleachers.
The Brewers added two more runs in the top of the sixth courtesy of a balk and a wild pitch, grabbing a 4-0 lead. Orlando Arcia and Keon Broxton led off the ninth inning with a pair of solo homeruns.
Eric Kratz went 3-4 to lead Milwaukee offensively while Shaw and Ryan Braun finished with two hits each. Corbin Burnes was the winning pitcher, tossing two hitless innings of relief. The Brewers have now won 11 consecutive games dating back to the final week of the regular season. Games One and Two of the best-of-seven NLCS will be Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13 in Milwaukee.
Patriots Post Third Consecutive Shutout
The Westwood Patriots kept their opponent off the scoreboard for the third straight game, blanking L’Anse 22-0 in West PAC football action on Friday.
The Patriots opened the scoring with 3:06 left in the opening quarter when Nathan Beckman rushed for a seven-yard touchdown, capping a 46-yard drive set up by an Erik Anderson interception. Beckman then converted the two-point try to give Westwood an 8-0 lead.
L’Anse was stopped on fourth down near midfield with just over three minutes left in the first half. Westwood marched 54 yards down the field and Ashton Bergman found the endzone from five yards out with 23 seconds to play. The conversion failed and Westwood led 14-0 at halftime.
The Pats consumed most of the third quarter clock with a 43-yard touchdown drive capped by a Taylor Dellangelo four-yard run. Dellangelo rushed for the two-point conversion as well, putting Westwood up 22-0 with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.
Westwood completed just one pass on the night and was able to overcome five turnovers. The Patriots have now scored 76 unanswered points dating back to their Week Four contest with Ishpeming (forfeits are scored 2-0 in Michigan). The Pats are now 5-2 (4-1) and have the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth next Friday when they host Bessemer. Meanwhile, L’Anse drops to 3-4 (2-3) as their losing streak against Westwood grows to nine consecutive games.
Patriots Blank Hancock; Cruise To Homecoming Victory
The Westwood Patriots celebrated homecoming with a blowout win, rolling past Hancock 46-0 Friday night in Ishpeming.
Erik Anderson intercepted a Hancock pass on their opening possession, setting up Westwood at the Bulldog 45-yard line. Five plays later, quarterback Nathan Beckman scampered into the endzone for a five-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversation put the Pats ahead 8-0 with 9:20 left in the opening quarter.
Following a Bulldog punt, Beckman capped a seven-play, 53-yard scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion put Westwood up 16-0 at the 5:51 mark. Garrett Mann recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving Westwood the ball at the Bulldog 20-yard line. Two plays later, Beckman raced ten yards for his third rushing touchdown of the game. The two-point conversion gave the Pats a 24-0 advantage with 5:09 left in the opening quarter.
A five-play, 25-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter culminated with a four-yard touchdown run by Ashton Bergman. The conversion failed and Westwood led 30-0 at the 2:21 mark. The Pats opened the second quarter with a 72-yard scoring drive that spanned nine plays and ended with Beckman’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game. Westwood led 38-0 at halftime before Bergman dashed into the endzone from three yards out early in the third quarter to cap the scoring.
Beckman carried the ball 14 times for 114 yards and four touchdowns while Bergman touted the ball 24 times for 137 yards and two scores. Adam Hyttinen had the Patriots lone pass reception of the night; a 22-yard strike in the first quarter. The Patriots finished the game with 374 yards of total offense while limiting Hancock to just 38 net yards.
Westwood improves to 4-2 (3-1 West PAC-A) while Hancock drops to 2-4 (2-2) on the season. The Patriots return to action next Friday night at L’Anse, the game will be broadcast on ESPN UP and on the ESPN UP mobile app.
Area Well Represented In Latest UPSSA Football Poll
Four local teams find themselves in the latest Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association football rankings.
Ishpeming (5-0) holds as the top-ranked team in the small schools category, garnering all six first place votes. Gwinn (4-1) fell two spots to fourth after suffering their first loss of the season last week against Houghton. The two squads will play this Friday night in Gwinn.
Westwood (3-2) checks in at number four in the large school division while Marquette (2-3) drops two spots to fifth after a three-point loss to Petosky on Saturday. Calumet (5-0) was unanimously selected for the top spot in the rankings. Westwood hosts Hancock (2-3) this Friday while Marquette visits Kingsford.
Full rankings:
LARGE SCHOOL
1-Calumet (6) (5-0)
2-Escanaba (3-2)
3-Kingsford (2-3)
4-Westwood (3-2)
5-Marquette (2-3)
6-Gladstone (3-2)
7-Hancock (2-3)
SMALL SCHOOL
1-Ishpeming (6) (5-0)
2-Iron Mountain (4-1)
3-West Iron County (4-1)
4-Gwinn (4-1)
5-St. Ignace (2-3)
6-L’Anse (3-2)
7-Norway (2-3)
EIGHT PLAYER
1-Pickford (6) (5-0)
2-Engadine (4-1)
3-Stephenson (4-1)
4-Forest Park (3-2)
5-North Central (4-1)
6-Cedarville (3-2)
Westwood Football Picks Up Forfeit Victory, JV Rolls Manistique
The Westwood High School varsity and junior varsity football teams each picked up victories over Manistique this week; the Emeralds forfeited the varsity contest due to lack of available players and the Patriots JV squad cruised to a 36-6 win Thursday night in Ishpeming.
Westwood got the scoring going with 1:10 left in the first quarter as Travis Uren scampered 16 yards into the endzone, capping an 80-yard touchdown drive. Uren then converted the two-point try, giving the Pats an 8-0 lead. Westwood went up by two scores on their next possession as Luke Mariuzza capped a 90-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. The two-point conversion put Westwood up 16-0 with 7:11 left in the first half.
A promising Emerald drive stalled in the redzone when Zach Carlson came up with his second interception of the game. The Pats drove 91 yards in less than a minute, culminating in a 68-yard touchdown run by Stephen Kangus. The two-point try failed and Westwood led 22-0 at halftime.
The third quarter started with another long scoring drive as Westwood marched 85 yards down the field on their first possession, topped with a five-yard touchdown run from Uren. Following the failed two-point conversion, a botched Manistique punt gave Westwood the ball at the Emerald 32-yard line. Moments later, Mariuzza found the endzone from five yards out then carried the ball in for the extra two points on the next play. Manistique’s only score came on a 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter.
The Westwood JV team is now 3-1-1 on the season while the Patriot varsity squad moves to 3-2 overall.